Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4851 to 4875 of 4937 results

4851. Too Light A Thing

Isaiah 49:1-7

Sermon

Paul E. Robinson

A man by the name of Kevin Trudeau has marketed a memory course called "Mega-Memory." In the beginning of the course he quizzes the participants about their "teachability quotient." He says it consists of two parts. First, on a scale of one to ten "where would you put your motivation to learn?" Most people would put themselves pretty high, say about nine to ten, he says. Secondly, though, Kevin asks the listeners of the tape to put themselves on a scale of one to ten in terms of his or her willingness to ...

4852. Thistles Among The Wheat

Genesis 28:10-22, Psalm 139:1-24, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Romans 8:12-25

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

The parable of the weeds and wheat is intriguing. It raises a number of issues that are complex and can be confusing. Some resolutions of the issues are suggested while for others you need to look elsewhere for more adequate explanations. Some differences are found within the parable itself and the interpretation given to the disciples. One of the issues is the question about the nature of the church. Does this parable apply to the church as part of the kingdom of God? If so, is the church a divine or a ...

4853. The Promise Of The Spirit

Sermon

John A. Stroman

As a mainline church we have been told to the point of weariness what is wrong with us. Many articles have been written about the demise of the mainline churches with their dwindling membership and attendance. Someone has figured out mathematically that if the United Methodists continue to lose members at the present rate, the last Methodist will leave the face of the earth in the year 2037. This is a very sobering thought. The Dilemma Of Decline To borrow a line from Dickens, these are, for the mainline ...

4854. On The Twenty-Fourth Day

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai ... -- Haggai 2:10 Haggai works his way to this crucial question, and so shall we. Once again he begins a prophecy with a precise date. These dates are nearly unique in scripture. Zechariah, Haggai's contemporary, also uses exact dates, but in most instances the date of a particular passage in the Bible is determined from outside evidence. Archaeological evidence in the form of ...

4855. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 9:33-37

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

THE COMMUNITY GATHERS TO CELEBRATE Pastoral Invitation In the name of the risen Christ, hello. Welcome to God's world, and everything in-between. For what purpose have you come today? (Thirty seconds of silence.) Invite people to respond. If no one responds, express for the people that they probably come for a variety of reasons, some positive, some not so positive, some healthy, some not so healthy. For whatever reason, we are here. We are here today to discover the meaning of true greatness. Welcome! ...

4856. How Blest Are Those Who Know Their Need Of God

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Mark Radecke

You may be familiar with the story. It is as wonderful as it is true. A successful businessman was invited, over 30 years ago, to give a commencement address to a group of 61 sixth graders. The youngsters were about to graduate from an elementary school in a very poor part of one of our major cities. If these boys and girls followed in the footsteps of the school's other alumni/ae, only about six or seven of them would graduate from high school and it would be remarkable if any went on to college. The ...

4857. Lent 4

Matthew 20:20-28, Matthew 20:17-19, John 9:35-41, John 9:13-34, Romans 8:1-17, Ephesians 4:17--5:21, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, John 9:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Christ confronts a blind man and heals him. By so doing Christ also confronts the skepticism of the Jewish authorities and each person is confronted with the question: Who is this Jesus? COMMENTARY Old Testament: 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13 (RC) This text presents us with an interesting theological concept that challenges our notions of God's unchangeableness. Here God changes his mind about a choice he had previously made. Saul was no longer worthy to be king and Samuel was to appoint another to take ...

4858. Proper 16 & Pentecost 14

Matthew 16:13-20, Exodus 1:1-22, Exodus 2:1-10, Isaiah 22:1-25, Isaiah 51:1-16, Romans 11:33-36

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Deliverance from bondage. The Old Testament readings, with the exception of the Roman Catholic, focus on God's great acts of deliverance. God sends prophets to announce their approaching freedom. We see the completion of God's intent in the gospel, where he gives to the church the power to deliver people from the bondage of sin. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 1:8 2:10 Generations after Joseph, the Israelites have multiplied and are regarded as a security risk. The period referred to here is from ...

4859. Proper 24

Exodus 33:12-23, Isaiah 45:1-7, Matthew 22:15-22, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: The rule of God. In the Isaiah text, God rules through a heathen king, Cyrus. In the Second Lesson, he claims us through the gospel. In the Gospel Lesson, Jesus reminds us that God's rule includes the power structures of this world, yet transcends these structures. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 33:12-23 The Lord is still stung by the golden calf episode and is threatening to withhold his presence. Moses pleads that God would go with him and the people as they made their way to the Promised Land. ...

4860. The Pure In Heart

Sermon

John A. Terry

Psalm 42Matthew 5:1-12 Purity of heart is a common thead throughout scripture. The first of the Ten Commandments says: "You shall have no other gods before me" (Deuteronomy 5:7). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other" (Matthew 6:24). "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For ...

4861. When All Is Said And Done

Matthew 13:24-30

Sermon

William G. Carter

The Jehovah's Witnesses have changed their minds. After warning for decades that the world would end within this present generation, the leaders of the sect announced in December 1995 that they have softened their position. As a spokesman explained, "Jesus said that 'this generation will not pass away' until a number of signs have taken place (Mark 13:30). When we reflected on the scriptures, we decided that he was talking about his generation rather than ours." Ex-Witness James Fenton, professor emeritus ...

4862. The Pure In Heart

Psalm 42:1-11

Sermon

John A. Terry

Purity of heart is a common thead throughout scripture. The first of the Ten Commandments says: "You shall have no other gods before me" (Deuteronomy 5:7). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other" (Matthew 6:24). "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and ...

4863. John the Baptist Beheaded

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon Aid

Richard A. Jensen

Today's text centers in two men: John the Baptist and King Herod. The identity of Jesus is the issue immediately at hand. We discussed this identity issue in the previous chapter, noting that Mark 4:35--6:6 deals with this question. The disciples wonder who Jesus is. Jesus proceeds to demonstrate who he is through a series of spectacular miracles. He drives out a legion of demons, heals a woman with a flow of blood and raises a young girl from the dead. Still, when he arrives in his hometown, his kinfolk ...

4864. King By Force

John 6:1-15

Sermon

Robert Salzgeber

"A large crowd followed (Jesus), because they had seen his miracles of healing the sick." Notice the crowd's condition for following Jesus. There is an angel. He was able to heal sick people, therefore they followed. There was one more reason why Jesus would have been somewhat reticent about openly sharing miracles, signs and wonders. He did not wish people to follow him simply because he was able to physically heal people. Others could do that also. So he would often ask his followers to tell no one about ...

4865. Charlie Used To Do That

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Robert Salzgeber

The people said, "Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, just as the scripture says, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' " Jesus answered, "What Moses gave you was not the bread from heaven; it is my Father who gives you the real bread from heaven." Jesus is referring to the fact that even when God gave the whole Israelite community manna the people still complained; they were not satisfied. God then gave the Hebrews quail and they continued to be dissatisfied. Later on the whole Israelite community ...

4866. The M And M Factor

Mark 2:23-3:6

Sermon

Leonard H. Budd

Caleb was probably the laziest boy in the whole village. At least that was his reputation, although no one had ever done scientific study on the question. Caleb could sit in one position - usually, shaded by a tree and upon a matting of soft grass - for hours. He could sit there and watch the clouds move across the sky from daybreak to sunset. Actually, he was never out of bed at day break so the statement was more for effect than truth! This day Caleb had chosen to escape his field chores by hiding away ...

4867. Lent 2

Mk 8:31-38 · Rom 4:13-25; 8:31-39 · Gen 17:1-7, 15-16; 22:1-18 · Ps 22

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 God establishes his covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Like the covenant with Noah, it is an eternal covenant. Unlike that covenant, the beneficiaries of this covenant are Abraham's descendants exclusively. God promises to multiply his progeny so that nations and kings come from his line. As a result of this new relationship, the names of Abram and his wife, Sarai, are changed to Abraham and Sarah. Abraham means "the divine father is exalted." Sarah ...

4868. An Outcast · The Woman Of Samaria

John 4:1-26

Sermon

Gordon Pratt Baker

Intent on avoiding even the appearance of competing with John, whose disciples the Pharisees had goaded into a quarrel with his own, Jesus decided to withdraw from Judea to pursue his mission in Galilee. To do so, however, he must either travel by way of Perea, fording the Jordan twice as many of his countrymen did, or cross the full length of Samaria, which divided the two provinces. It was a choice of no mean significance inasmuch as the Jews and the Samaritans had long since severed relations with bad ...

4869. Life As An Investment

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

Let us pray: Gracious and eternal Father, we come before you this day seeking to make the most of the gifts which you have given us in life. Lord, as we now hear your word, may we learn how it is that we may serve you with all that we are. Lord, in these moments, grant us wisdom, understanding and peace. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. During the 1992 presidential campaign, one of the slogans which we heard frequently was ''invest and grow.'' The meaning of this phrase of course is that the government will ...

4870. The Condition Of Mercy

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

Let us pray: Our Father and our God, on this day we give you thanks for all the blessings of our lives. In these moments, may we learn something about what it is for which we need to be most thankful. Lord, in these moments may we experience your mercy and your grace. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. A social psychologist by the name of David Myers has written a book titled The Pursuit of Happiness. The book has 59 pages of references and a 43-page bibliography. This large number of citations clearly ...

4871. "The Scandal Of Disloyalty"

Psalm 62:1-12, Mark 14:66-72

Sermon

R. Sheldon MacKenzie

This is the last scene in which Peter is involved. As often happens throughout the gospel of Mark Peter is the representative disciple. He represents the other 10, maybe the whole 12.Until this time the other disciples were as much to blame as he was in their betrayals of Jesus. He had taken an oath, voluntarily, to stay with Jesus until death, if necessary. The others had said the same thing. The betrayal, when it came in the orchard, involved all of the disciples."They all forsook him and fled."As the ...

4872. Fresh Starts

Titus 3:5

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Objects: A check with your name written on it and some gifts that the children will accept as gifts you received in love. Happy New Year! Today we start all over with a brand new year! It is really good to know that we have fresh starts. For most people, a new year is almost the same as when God forgives your sins. You don't want to make the same mistakes again, but you begin without any of the bad problems that you collected the year before. This morning I want to tell you a little bit about the way God ...

4873. Fish Miracle

1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Isaiah 6:1-13, Luke 5:1-11

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

While the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. 2 And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 And Simon answered, "Master, we ...

4874. The Strength To Wait

Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon

Erskine White

Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. (Isaiah 40:33a) At the height of the Christmas shopping season, a young boy was standing at the bottom of a department store escalator, staring intently at the handrail as it moved along and refusing to take his eyes away. A saleswoman asked, "Are you lost?" "Nope," the boy said, "I'm waiting for my chewing gum to come back." That boy displayed an admirable patience, but most children find it hard to wait for the things they want. And at Christmas ...

4875. Ashamed Of The Gospel

Romans 1:1-17

Sermon

Erskine White

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel. (Romans 1:16) I want you to step into a time machine with me this morning. We're going to spend a few minutes today back in ancient Rome. We are going to the place they call "the Eternal City." In this year of 54 or 58 A.D., Rome is certainly the most magnificent city this side of China. It is the hub and heartbeat of an empire from Europe to Africa to the edge of Asia. Everything we see in Rome gives the image of power and wealth. First, we see the Roman army, marching ...

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